Socks, what about socks. What is good

[Dirt_Dad]

Love the wool hiking socks sold at outdoor stores. Shorter ones in the summer, longer ones in the winter. Never get a funky smell. Easily wear them for multiple ride days with no issue. Love 'em.

 

[hANNAbONE]

...smartwool...

 

[bloodline]

sock liners. period. polypro or silk. You can wear cheap cotton socks over the liners and it's amazingly comfortable. For cold weather and multiday trips, polypro sock liners and 100% wool socks. Can't be beat.

 

[EricV]

I had been watching the reponses and most are helpful but what my real concern is a a long ride next year, 22 days up to Prudhoe Bay and back and some side trips. Thinking about just a couple of pairs of socks and was wondering about fast dry times after washing, anti smell/rot factor. Anybody have any experience with the antimicrobial socks or with anything that advertises fast dry?

Toom, lots of good stuff shared here, but let me share some wisdom learned from endurance rallying. 10 days, 11k miles. I washed my socks every night, rotating thru three pairs. I had a little mesh bag on the back of the bike to dry the socks I washed the night before. Well, this worked to a degree, but I'll never do it again for that kind of riding. The funk never really gets washed out by hand in the motel sink.

Find some cheap socks you don't mind at a chain store. Wear them once, then throw them away, put on a fresh pair and repeat. If time is of the essence plan on starting with as many pairs as you need for the whole trip. Like the old submariners, you'll work your way to a lighter load. If time isn't as pressing, start with a 10 or 12 pack and stop and buy more on the trip when you need some.

For shorter trips, I typically just wear my socks a couple of days and then change. This lets me pack fewer and works fine if I'm not in them 20 hours a day.

 

[Climb14er]

Merino wool... absolutely NO cotton! Bridgedale, Smartwool, Thorlo, even Costco's Merino Wool four pack sold in the cold months.

In the cooler months, I wear super thin Fox River X-Static liners with my Bridgedale Trekker (medium weight) socks.

The same combo I wear with my mountaineering boots.

Merino wool... NO cotton! ::003::

 

[phplemel]

I hear all the talk about no cotton, no synthetic, Merino only. So will only comment on MY experience
For years I have only used X-Socks specifically X-Sock ski-light, http://www.x-socks.com/unisex/ski-performance/135427/detail
Last fall I did a 10 1/2 week trip from Yukon to Baja and took ONLY 2 pairs !!! They wash easy & dry FAST
Hard to find (they are ski or bicycle specific) and relatively expensive. But I still am using those same socks after that trip and nobody kicks me out of the room

I had been watching the reponses and most are helpful but what my real concern is a a long ride next year, 22 days up to Prudhoe Bay and back and some side trips. Thinking about just a couple of pairs of socks and was wondering about fast dry times after washing, anti smell/rot factor. Anybody have any experience with the antimicrobial socks or with anything that advertises fast dry?

 

[Climb14er]

I hear all the talk about no cotton, no synthetic, Merino only. So will only comment on MY experience
For years I have only used X-Socks specifically X-Sock ski-light, http://www.x-socks.com/unisex/ski-performance/135427/detail
Last fall I did a 10 1/2 week trip from Yukon to Baja and took ONLY 2 pairs !!! They wash easy & dry FAST
Hard to find (they are ski or bicycle specific) and relatively expensive. But I still am using those same socks after that trip and nobody kicks me out of the room

I don't see any cotton in the socks you posted about. That's good! You have a combo of nylon, poly and Merino wool. That'll work. Very expensive though.

Like I said... no cotton for me!

 

[houndman]

I use a brand called 5.11,. www.511tactical.com . These socks are made by an outfit that makes law enforcement gear. They are terrific for the warmer climates/ summer. Although they make thicker socks. The 9" socks are good for all but the taller mx boots. The basic "3" pack works great for me. A thinner close mesh on top of foot helps foot stay cool but they last a long time. I wear them for 8 and 16 hr shifts at work and they are good for the moto boots as well.

 

[JHKolb]

I use a brand called 5.11,. www.511tactical.com . These socks are made by an outfit that makes law enforcement gear. They are terrific for the warmer climates/ summer. Although they make thicker socks. The 9" socks are good for all but the taller mx boots. The basic "3" pack works great for me. A thinner close mesh on top of foot helps foot stay cool but they last a long time. I wear them for 8 and 16 hr shifts at work and they are good for the moto boots as well.

Same here, the 5.11 Level 1 (9") socks are my main sock. I wear them daily, and in colder weather will even layer them one over an other for extra warmth. I also wear 5.11 boots nearly everyday and with the socks are a great combo. The socks are the perfect height for my RevIt riding boots and never sag while wearing them.

 

[houndman]

Same here, the 5.11 Level 1 (9") socks are my main sock. I wear them daily, and in colder weather will even layer them one over an other for extra warmth. I also wear 5.11 boots nearly everyday and with the socks are a great combo. The socks are the perfect height for my RevIt riding boots and never sag while wearing them.

Yea I think a lot of riders would be pleased with these socks as they are made well and the coinage required is not like that for a set of say Thorlo or whatever that is. I bought stuff at motorcycle stores before I became involve in LE. When I realized some of the sock business was overkill as far as wool or thickness etc. was when I put the 5.11's on for a few rides and they stayed up,and maintained comfort, I am 6'1" and the 5.11 are good enough for any boot I wear except a pair of mx boots that are practically knee high. When it gets cold here,which isnt extreme at all, I'll stick on a set of bicycling socks ,ankle high, for an extra layer, then put the 5.11 over that. But for hotter weather these are the best I have used yet. ::008::

 

[Jason Ennis]

I am surprised no one has mentioned techsox. I have 2 pairs that I ride with. I found I don't need any more.
I hope it is ok to put links on this forum.
http://www.techsox.com/


Jason

 

[jajpko]

I am surprised no one has mentioned techsox. I have 2 pairs that I ride with. I found I don't need any more.
I hope it is ok to put links on this forum.
http://www.techsox.com/


Jason

They sound good except for one thing, the left and right sock. I can't see or think until I have at least 3 cups in the morning. Everyone else would be riding and I would still be trying to figure out which sock goes on which foot.. ::025::

 

[EricV]

I know a lot of long distance and other riders that love TechSox. They are a quality product, and priced that way. ???

Everyone has different needs. I'm just not that picky about socks and don't like paying that much for them. 100% cotton keeps my feet happy. For normal easy day riding trips, I just toss a few in my bag and change them every couple of days. For multi-day endurance rallies where I'm in my boots for 20 hours a day, nothing short of a machine wash will ever hope to clean those socks, and sometimes not even then. I just don't have the time to fuss with washing socks when I should be sleeping, so the disposable method works for me.

 

[switchback]

Unless I am trying to keep warm I am not terribly picky about socks. Fox river or head merino socks at Costco work for me along with the basic cotton for daily wear. If my boots leak in wet conditions nothing will wick the puddle away from my feet. For hot conditions the merino socks above work well enough.

 

[ainsworth]

I´ve a problem with socks and gloves, I´ve a lot of perspiration, in autumn and winter I start to ride dry, but 1/2 hour after that I´ve wet my foot and my hands. For foot the best solution I found was bamboo socks, the best thing they have is capability to move humidity to external side and keep the inner part dry. For me is the best, because if i´ve foot and hand wet the cool starts to freeze my hands and foot.
Here I bought by "bamboo socks" and i can´t find composite, but i think there are many combinations with another material to improve property to keep dry and warm.

 

[MotorcopBBQ]

I have been using Nike Drifit socks for the last couple of years for work. They are great at keeping my feet dry in my Chippewa's.

 

[MikeBear]

Wow!!! Three pages about socks... WalMart is place for me. Don't care the brand , as long. As they are cheap and tall.

 

[Karson]

merino wool all the way - unless you like subjecting yourself to swamp rot after a days riding. hot or cold weather, these things shine.

 

[Twisties]

I've been liking soccer socks. Seem to prefer the Nike Dri-fit. That's pretty much what our local sporting outlet has at the upper end of the spectrum. I assume there are similar products from other sports gear folk. These are knee length, offer slight compression, and are wicking. I would call them a medium weight synthetic. Although they are thinner than a medium weight wool sock. In winter I might add a liner sock or change to a thicker sock, but for three seasons these work great for me.

Yes, you can rinse them out in the evening and at least in this dry climate they will be ready in the morning. I wring them wrapped in a towel.

 

[Rustykfd]

http://www.ldcomfort.com/ Nothing fancy. Just good riding gear. Underwear and now socks of the best quality.